Harness for wind sports

ABSTRACT

A harness for wind sports has a rigid, external composite frame that contours to a region of a user&#39;s back. Direct connections between the composite frame and a spreader bar facilitate transmission of forces. The spreader bar may have a rope to provide a sliding attachment point to a sail or kite.

FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an article worn by a user to aid in the control of a wind powered device, such as a kite, wing, sail or the like. More particularly, the invention relates to a harness worn by the user having one or more points of attachment to be releasably secured to the wind powered device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recreational pursuits and other applications involving the utilization of energy from the wind to propel the user typically involve a kite or sail that is operated by the user to interact with the wind and generate propulsive force. Although the hands and arms are often used to control aspects of kite or sail operation including trim, attitude and positioning, the generated forces can be significant and the user may quickly tire if there is no provision for distributing those forces to other body parts. Thus, it may be desirable to provide a point of attachment associated with the core of the user's body to offload a portion of these forces to larger muscle groups such as the legs and abdomen as well as allowing the user's body to be used as a counterweight. As will be appreciated, one technique for achieving these goals is to use a harness that may be secured to the user's body and which may provide at least one point of attachment to the kite or sail.

There are a number of characteristics that are considered beneficial for a harness to be used for wind sports. In particular, the harness should offer a robust connection to the user that is stable and remains at the intended location on the user while being able to withstand the forces generated by the kite or sail and the varying directions with which those forces may be imparted to the user. Similarly, it is desirable to distribute the forces transferred from the kite or sail to the user's body over a relatively large area and to reduce concentration of such forces. Further, even though a secure connection to the user is advantageous, it is also beneficial to make the harness as comfortable as possible to allow the user to wear it for extended periods of time. Still further, the harness may be used to support portions of the user's body that are in contact with it to extend the period of time the user is able to engage in the wind sport activity. In yet another aspect, it may be desirable to allow a point of attachment to the kite or sail to be dynamically adjustable to accommodate varying postures of the user, such as may result from different headings of movement with respect to the wind direction. As will be described in the following materials, the harness designs of this disclosure satisfy these and other needs.

SUMMARY

This disclosure includes a harness for wind sports, comprising a rigid, external composite frame configured to contour to a region of a user's back, attachments connected to opposing latitudinal sides of the composite frame, wherein the attachments are configured to connect with a spreader bar, and padding secured to the composite frame.

In one aspect, the composite frame may be reinforcing members embedded in a binder matrix.

In one aspect, the composite frame may have a flange around at least a portion of a perimeter of the composite frame. The flange may have a reduced thickness relative to a remainder of the composite frame. Padding may be secured to the composite frame by sewing through the flange.

In one aspect, the composite frame is configured to encircle a volume in the range of approximately 150-180°, wherein the volume corresponds to a user's torso.

In one aspect, the attachments may be webbing loops, at least one of which may be adjustable. The webbing loops may be connected to the composite frame by passing through apertures formed in the composite frame.

In one aspect, the composite frame may have a convex surface that is configured to partially encircle a user's torso with a central concave region configured to engage a lumbar region of the user when the harness is worn.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically depicts a three quarters rear view of a harness having a composite frame according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 schematically depicts a side view of a harness having a composite frame according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 schematically depicts a front view of a harness having a composite frame according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 schematically depicts a composite frame according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 schematically depicts a spreader bar according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 schematically depicts a slider according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7 schematically depicts a thimble according to an embodiment.

FIG. 8 schematically depicts connection of a composite frame to a harness according to an embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Before describing the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to particularly exemplified materials, methods or structures as such may, of course, vary. Thus, although a number of materials and methods similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice of the present invention, the preferred materials and methods are described herein.

It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments of the invention only and is not intended to be limiting.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains.

Further, all publications, patents and patent applications cited herein, whether supra or infra, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Finally, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a, “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

Aspects of this disclosure may be appreciated in the context of the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1-3. Beginning with FIG. 1, harness 100 is shown from a three quarters rear view and is generally configured to be worn around the waist of the user. As will be appreciated, the techniques of this disclosure may be applied to other known harness designs, such as chest or seat harnesses with suitable modifications. The back of harness 100 is formed by a rigid external composite frame 102. Harness 100 tapers from the back to relatively narrower belt portion 104 that encircles the user's waist. In some embodiments, the opposing ends of belt portion 104 may be formed in part from elastic materials and/or may be releasably secured together by buckles, clips, hook and loop fasteners or other suitable mechanisms to provide a relatively snug fit around the user's waist. Surrounding the edges of composite frame 102 is a padded region 106 to cushion the engagement with the user. For example, a fabric covered foam or the equivalent may be used. Padded region 106 may also extend to the belt portion and may be substantially continuous to provide a uniform surface for contact with the user to avoid pressure points. Composite frame 102 is used to distribute the forces transferred from harness 100 to the user to the lumbar region of the back and hips in this configuration. Accordingly, composite frame 102 may be contoured to conform closely to the anatomy of the user. For example, composite frame 102 may be shaped to a mold representative of a user's body. Different molds may be provided to accommodate different anatomies. This results in an effective and even distribution of the transferred forces as well as serving to keep harness 100 in a specific orientation and position on the user.

Next, in the side view shown in FIG. 2, the primary closure of harness 100 around the user's waist is through spreader bar 108. As shown, a releasable attachment to spreader bar 108 may be provided by loop 110 that engages a J-shaped end 112 of spreader bar 108. Loop 110 may be formed from rope or any other relatively inelastic material and may be covered with tubing to improve wear and help maintain a shape that facilitates engagement with J-shaped end 112. Further, one or both of loops 110 may have an adjustable length, such as through the use of a ladderlock buckle or the like, to allow spreader bar 108 to be secured to the user with a desired degree of tension. Spreader bar 108 also includes an attachment point for connecting to a kite or sail, such as hook 114. Any known means of attachment to a kite or sail may be employed, including a chicken loop of a kite control bar, harness lines from a sail boom, and their equivalents. Spreader bar 108 may be formed from a wire frame of stainless steel, aluminum or other suitable materials. Additional details of this embodiment of spreader bar 108 are shown in the front view of FIG. 3. As illustrated, loop 110 releasably engages J-shaped end 112 of spreader bar, which may be attached by a similar connection at the opposite end or may be threaded through closed end 116 of spreader bar 108 in the embodiment shown. Hook 114 may be located on trolley 118 that slides over webbing 120. Pad 122 may cushion the user from spreader bar 108. As is known in the art, depending upon the user's riding posture and heading, the direction of the force imparted to harness 100 by a kite or sail may vary. Prior art harness designs have a tendency to undesirably shift around the user due to these varying directions. By allowing trolley 118 to slide along webbing 120, forces that are not centered to the user may be accommodated without causing harness 100 to rotate relative to the user or, given the improved stability and positioning of harness 100 due to composite frame 102, without imparting a twisting force to the user's torso. Padded region 106 may also extend in front of composite frame as shown to provide cushioning for the user's torso.

Details regarding composite frame 102 are schematically shown in the elevation view of FIG. 4. As illustrated, composite frame 102 has a three-dimensional shape as indicated by the contour lines that is adapted to conform closely to the shape of the user's back. For example, concave region 124 may be surrounded by the generally convex remainder of composite frame 102 and be configured to support the lumbar region of the user's back. Composite frame 102 may extend partially around the waist of the user, such as in the range of approximately 150-180° around the torso or more. Correspondingly, the opposing sides may be tapered to match the belt portion of harness 100 as shown.

Such configurations help distribute forces to the hips and core of the user, while enhancing the position and orientation stability. Apertures 126 or other suitable connection points may be provided in composite frame 102 to allow loops 110 to be attached to the frame, further improving transfer of force from spreader bar 108. Either the material used to form loops 110 may be directly attached to composite frame 102 or the two elements may be connected through another substantially non-compliant member such as webbing or the like. Webbing or similar material may also be extended between opposing apertures on the inside of composite frame 102 to maintain integrity of the harness in case the composite frame fails to ensure that a complete band of material is still attached to the kite or sail. In one aspect, apertures 126 may be offset from each other as shown to spread the forces being applied to composite frame 102 over a broader area. Composite frame 102 may include flange 128 around its entire perimeter or a portion of the perimeter to facilitate connection to the more resilient materials forming the remainder of harness 100, such as webbing, fabric and/or foam. By transitioning from the relatively hard material of composite frame 102 to the noted softer materials, the edges of composite frame 102 may be cushioned to provide a more comfortable fit and do not need to directly engage the user. In one aspect, flange 128 may have a reduced thickness such that composite frame 102 may be attached to the rest of harness 100 by stitching. In other embodiments, adhesives, thermoplastic welding, or any other suitable means of attachment may be employed.

Apart from flange 128, the remainder of the surface of composite frame 102 that faces away from the user may remain exposed. As will be appreciated, this may reduce the overall amount of material required for the harness as compared to conventional designs with internal structural members. Further, composite frame 102 may be essentially non-absorbent, reducing weight while in use and exposed to water as well as reducing drying time.

In one aspect, composite frame 102 may be formed from a suitable composite material that includes reinforcing members embedded in a binder matrix. For example, the reinforcing members may be formed from fibers, fabrics or the like of any suitable material, including carbon, glass, boron, basalt, Nylon, Kevlar and the like. The binder matrix may be formed from suitable polymeric materials, including polyester and epoxy. The reinforcing members may be “wet out” or saturated with the polymer prior to curing to achieve desired structural characteristics. In some embodiments, the reinforcing member may have a three-dimensional structure such as a honeycomb configuration or the like. By employing such materials, composite frame 102 may feature superior characteristics for receiving and distributing forces transferred from a kite or sail. Further, it achieves these results with less bulk and weight but greater strength than conventional designs that utilize only foam, fabric or webbing. Other conventional designs that feature internal stiffening elements do not provide direct connection to the spreader bar and, since they are covered by fabric and padding, are substantially bulkier.

Another embodiment is depicted in FIG. 5, showing an alternate spreader bar 130 that is formed from a composite material, such as carbon fiber and epoxy, although other any of the other composites described above may also be used. Spreader bar 130 has a J-shaped end 132 for releasable attachment with loop 110 and a closed end 134 as described above. Rope 136 or other similar material may extend between the ends of spreader bar 130, such as through apertures. Sliding hook 138 may travel along rope 136 and serve as a point of attachment for a kite or sail, as described above. In some embodiments, a direct attachment may be formed with the rope 136 alone. For example, the chicken loop of a kite control bar may be closed around the loop to secure the kite to harness 100, while allowing the chicken loop to slide side to side along the rope to accommodate changes in rider posture. In another aspect, slider 138 may be substituted with slider 140, shown in FIG. 6. Rope 136 may extend through aperture 142 which may be sized to allow free travel or may have an inner diameter sized to create desired amount of friction in relation to the outer diameter of rope 136, causing slider 140 to remain in a stable position when not being subjected to significant force and allowing the user to more easily attach or release the kite or sail. Aperture 144 may form the attachment point to the kite or sail, such as by a shackle or otherwise as known to those of skill in the art. In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, thimble 145 may utilize a single aperture to travel along rope 136 as well as provide an attachment point.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of a region adjacent the edge of composite frame 102 showing details regarding one suitable technique for securing and transitioning the rigid composite frame 102 to the more resilient materials of harness 100. Sew strip 146 may be formed from a resilient material, such as rubber, plastic or other polymers, and may have a recess along one edge to receive composite frame 102, which may be attached by adhesives, stitching 148, both, or any other suitable means. As noted above, flange 128 may have a reduced thickness with respect to the remainder of composite frame 102. Padded region 106, shown here to include foam padding 150 and neoprene cover 152, may be secured to the opposing edge of sew strip 146 by stitching 154. Piping strip 156 may also be secured by stitching 154 as shown. The external surface 158 of composite frame 102 may be substantially exposed, save for any overlap necessary for connection to sew strip 146 or other components around its perimeter, while padded region 106, including foam padding 150 and neoprene cover 152 and/or other suitable materials may extend across the internal surface 160 to provide a more comfortable interface with the user's torso. In one embodiment, the difference in thickness of flange 128 may match the thickness of sew strip 146, providing a smooth transition from the neoprene cover 152 of foam padding 150 across sew strip 146 to composite frame 102 as shown in FIG. 8. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A harness for wind sports, comprising a rigid, external composite frame configured to contour to a region of a user's back, attachments connected to opposing latitudinal sides of the composite frame, wherein the attachments are configured to connect with a spreader bar, and padding secured to the composite frame.
 2. The harness of claim 1, wherein the composite frame comprises reinforcing members embedded in a binder matrix.
 3. The harness of claim 2, wherein the reinforcing members are selected from the group consisting of carbon, glass, boron, basalt, Nylon and Kevlar.
 4. The harness of claim 2, wherein the binder matrix is selected from the group consisting of polyester and epoxy.
 5. The harness of claim 1, wherein the composite frame has a flange around at least a portion of a perimeter of the composite frame.
 6. The harness of claim 5, wherein the flange has a reduced thickness relative to a remainder of the composite frame.
 7. The harness of claim 6, wherein the padding is secured to the composite frame by sewing through the flange.
 8. The harness of claim 7, further comprising a sew strip, wherein one edge of the sew strip is secured to the flange of the composite frame and an opposing edge of the sew strip is secured to the padding.
 9. The harness of claim 1, wherein the composite frame is configured to encircle a volume in the range of approximately 150-180°, wherein the volume corresponds to a user's torso.
 10. The harness of claim 1, wherein the attachments comprise webbing loops.
 11. The harness of claim 10, wherein at least one of the webbing loops has adjustable length.
 12. The harness of claim 10, wherein the webbing loops are connected to the composite frame by passing through apertures formed in the composite frame.
 13. The harness of claim 12, wherein the apertures are offset with respect to each other.
 14. The harness of claim 1, further comprising a spreader bar.
 15. The harness of claim 14, wherein the spreader bar has a rope extending between opposing sides of the spreader bar.
 16. The harness of claim 15, further comprising a sliding attachment on the rope.
 17. The harness of claim 1, wherein the composite frame has a convex surface that is configured to partially encircle a user's torso with a central concave region configured to engage a lumbar region of the user when the harness is worn. 